A short, sweet, and extremely festive romance that will put readers in the holiday spirit.
Romance-author exes wind up sharing a bed (and a book idea) when they get snowed in at a publishing event.
Jessica Carrington and Nick Matthews once had the kind of relationship that happily-ever-afters are made of. They were head over heels in love and both pursuing their dreams of writing romance novels. But then Nick’s career took off faster than Jess’ and he broke up with her, breaking her heart. Nick made a name for himself writing love stories without happy endings (a cardinal sin in the romance world), earning himself movie adaptations and bestsellers. Jess, meanwhile, grew a steady but much less financially rewarding career. Seeing her ex succeed for writing books that aren’t even technically romance is too much to take, so she’s avoided him for years…that is, until they end up at a charming inn for their publisher’s annual holiday party. Jess is enraged that she’s asked to present an award to Nick, although she goes along with it to look professional. She hopes to get through it with as little interaction as possible, but perhaps she should see what’s coming next: They get snowed in, and they’re forced to share a hotel room—and there’s only one bed. Jess can’t deny that she and Nick still have chemistry and all the snappy banter of an enemies-to-lovers rom-com. When their publisher suggests they work on a book together, her initial hesitation turns into excitement as the words flow easily. But just because they work well together doesn’t mean they’d make a good couple, and Jess still doesn’t know why Nick broke it off all those years ago. Ballard has written another fun and impossible-to-put-down romance with engaging leads. Readers will enjoy the peek behind the curtain at the world of publishing, and the sexual tension between Nick and Jess will keep them turning the pages. The cozy setting and Christmas details make for strong holiday vibes, no matter the season.
A short, sweet, and extremely festive romance that will put readers in the holiday spirit.Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
ISBN: 9780593851845
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...
Hoover’s (November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.
At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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